Fitness tips for the heart from Thomas Mullis

Thomas Mullis, What does a good cardio workout entail?

If you want to improve your cardiovascular health in the long term, you need to exercise three times a week for 45 minutes each session at an intensity which you find slightly to moderately strenuous. You should work up a sweat and breathe heavier. Endurance sports like fast walking, jogging and cycling are ideal.

When should I not train?

You should not train if you have the flu or a fever. Once you have recovered from the illness, wait a further two days before you start training again. A break from your exercise regime may also be appropriate if you have other illnesses or musculoskeletal disorders – the best thing to do is ask your doctor if you have any doubts. If you have arthrosis, on the other hand, you should not stop training under any circumstances. After all, exercise lubricates the joints, thus preventing the arthrosis from getting worse.

What should my exercise regime entail following a heart operation?

Cardiac patients should exercise for at least one hour every day. The duration of this training is much more important than its intensity. So it is better to exercise for a long time at low intensity than for a short time at high intensity.

The training expert Thomas Mullis is a physical education teacher and project manager of the Helsana Trails.